Puppy for grabs

I've always found it exceedingly offensive when people leave their pets tied up outside of stores or restaurants while they are inside. I think it's cruel. You'd never leave your child tied to a lamppost. Why leave your dog? How sad does this poor pup look? I found the little guy howling, crying and shivering outside of a deli in the West Village.















On another note, today felt positively tropical compared to the arctic temperatures we've been experiencing. We had highs in the mid-40's this afternoon. I took advantage of the balmy weather and took a stroll along the Hudson River. There was a big event there yesterday for the passengers of the USAir flight that landed in the river exactly one year ago. In honor of the goose that caused the disaster, yesterdays festivities were sponsored by Grey Goose. Still trying to figure out how I feel about that...

The Return of the Blueberry

Technology changes constantly. But just like children growing up under our own noses, we don't notice it because the change appears to happen gradually. Cassette tapes are virtually unidentifiable to anyone under 20 and VHSs? Forget those! Portable CD players, which were all the rage and the "must-have" accessory of 1994, were antiquated in 2000 with the commercialization of MP3 players. And cell phones without internet? What's the point of those?

My best friend started a new job last week. On Day 1, after after orienting her to the company and discussing their progressive views on staffing and community building, they handed her this brick.














A first generation Blackberry phone! We jokingly call it the Blueberry (because it's actually the original blue color) and assume that it is on loan from the Smithsonian. But it sends and receives emails and if you have really good hearing, you can even make a phone call with it. However, there's no browser or internet. Without internet access, how is she supposed to surf the net from the subway? Or Mapquest her restaurant of choice for dinner after reading the review on the New York Magazine mobile site. What do you mean she's not supposed to? What else is a cell phone for? Thank goodness her personal cell phone has all these capabilities; without them, she might not be able to exist in 2010!

Coupon!

Hello Bloggy Followers,

There are 7 of you now! Thanks to my mom (who is not a pimp). Here's a B&N coupon just for you. Please enjoy 10% off of your online or in-store purchase through 1/24. May I suggest The Glass Castle? Or, if you've already read it, perhaps Half Broke Horses, her newest book. You can never go wrong with Jodi Piccoult, or if you just need a light hearted read and a good laugh, try the Shopaholics series.

Enjoy!

Phi Beta Barista

Courtesy of my mother and her friend Julie, I have a whole lot of Starbucks bucks dangling from my keychain (keychain giftcard: best invention ever, props, Starbucks!). So rather than my usual stop at Dunkin' Donuts in the morning, I've been going to Starbucks instead. Some of you may remember that last September I was severly traumatized when my Starbucks (27th & 3rd) closed. Given the ubiquitousness of Starbucks, I would have thought that it would be simple to pick a new location and start going there instead. Not so, my friend. The only two locations that I pass (without going out of my way) on my walk to work are the big one on 29th & Park and a smaller one on 32nd & 2nd. And to be honest, the one on 32nd is a few steps out of my way. Regardless, I spent a few weeks experimenting with both locations.

The one on 29th & Park is ridiculously overcrowded. Right outside of the 6 train, it fills with hoards of people coming off the subway looking for their morning caffeine fix (or second fix for those who walk in carrying cups to be refilled). That location also serves the numerous corporate complexes within the 10 surrounding blocks, as the nearest locations on Park Avenue are at 23rd and 34th Streets. The line is always long, there's not enough people working there, and they only keep one register open (despite the fact that they have 3). I gave that location a D+. The only thing that kept them from failing is their ability to get the drink right on the first try.

The Starbucks on 32nd & 2nd proved to be a quieter option in the morning. Since there's no subway nearby, it doesn't seem to attract the commuters that the other one does. It's usually just the locals in there and frazzled parents feeding their kids a last minute breakfast before depositing them at PS116 down the street. I decided that, given the options, it's the lesser of two evils. The line is generally short, the kids pretty tame (as long as it's winter and they're too bundled up to move) and the whole experience moves pretty quickly. Until you ask for a complicated drink. And then all hell breaks loose. You repeat it three times to the cashier taking the order while she attempts to write it on the cup: "Yes, I'd like a grande iced decaf with sugar free vanilla and half whole milk, half skim milk and three Splendas in a venti cup." She jots down a few notes. "Yes, that's DECAF." She scratches out a few lines. "No, sugar FREE vanilla." She shades a different box. "Right- 1/2 skim, 1/2 whole milk, I could put it in myself if you'd leave the milk cannisters out like you used to." And then she passes the cup, notes and all, over to the barista. Who I have started referring to as the Phi Beta Barista. Even with the whole drink written out for her, ON THE CUP, she still gets it wrong. Every morning, as she hands me my drink, I politely remind her: "That's decaf, right?" And she tosses the whole thing and starts again. Cup and all. As soon as I see her start pumping the syrup in, I have to remind her: "Sugar FREE vanilla, please!" Another cup tossed. As she works on the third cup, I walk her through it: "Venti cup. Sugar FREE vanilla. Ice. DEFAF coffee. Halfway up to the grande line. Three Splendas. Now fill the remaining space with 1/2 whole milk and 1/2 skim milk." And then she finally hands my cup to me looking all proud of herself for getting the drink right.

The fish tank and the sushi bar

As I was leaving work tonight, I decided that I wanted Chinese food. Instead of going home and ordering delivery, I decided to stop and pick it up on my way. I've been ordering from Hong Kong Noodle for years. Since before I graduated from NYU. They have super cheap Chinese food and a decent sushi menu. And tonight was the first time I've set foot in the place. And this is what I saw:















Yes. That's a fish tank overlooking the sushi bar. Am I the only one who sees something wrong with this situation? I'm trying to think of an analogy but I'm at a loss. An amusement park overlooking an execution chamber? A dance club at the morgue? A Dylan's Candy Shop next door to Jenny Craig? I don't know what to compare it to, but I just think it's somewhat nasty to have these sweet little fishies swimming around next to their friends and family who are being served up over a bed of sticky rice. I'm just sayin'...

Who doesn't love a bargain?

My freshman year in college I lived in a heinously small apartment with four other girls. And by apartment, I mean two adjoining rooms with a bathroom in between. In the "apartment," we didn't have a dishwasher. Heck, we didn't even have a kitchen or dishes to wash. What we had was a mini fridge, a microwave (in the closet because someone's mom said it was unsafe to sleep/live in a room with a microwave), food in microwavable containers, and paper plates, plastic bowls and utensils. I grew accustomed to eating and then, instead of doing dishes, throwing away the dishes and utensils. Sometimes we borrowed dishes/utensils from the dining halls, but that's a story for another time...

Fast forward nine and a half years (has it really been 9.5 years since I moved into room 1007W?), and I'm living in my own apartment (and have been for five years) with an exquisitely renovated kitchen and brand spanking new dish drawer (that's 2010 speak for a dishwasher that pulls out, rather than opens up). And I continue to use plastic forks, knives, spoons and chopsticks and paper plates. Last week, I even considered buying them in bulk during a visit to Costco. But given my New Year's resolution to use real dishes (I've got a ton that I "stole" from Grandma and Grandpa's house in the country when we shipped G&G down to Florida full-time and decided they didn't need a full set of dishes up here anymore), I figured that I'd finish the plastic and paper stuff I've got and then start using the real deal. It's a joint effort between my desire to reduce my carbon footprint and save a few bucks...

That said, I was passing through Gracious Home yesterday to pick up a reusable shopping bag for a friend when I hit the mother load. All holiday items were 75% off. Yup. That includes the holiday plates and napkins. So I just had to buy eight packages of plates. And napkins.

I know my New Year's resolution was to avoid this stuff, but I just had to get them. I mean, at 75% off, they were practically free. It would be wasting money not to buy them because, let's face it, I'd surely suffer a relapse and end up buying disposable stuff full-price later in the month. So I'll use these up. And then I'll start using the real thing. I promise.

And oh yeah, I also got 20 packs of little Sniff tissues for $0.37 each.

The One When The Holidays Officially Ended

Today, my apartment went from this:










To this:










And tomorrow I'll probably put them away completely, but I can't bear to say goodbye to them quite yet. Purchased from Duane Reade (the "big" green one) and Target (the pink, blue and white ones), these little trees have served me well. Decorated with tiny white lights and small boldly colored ornaments (from the Target dollar aisle), they added spunk and energy to my little apartment. I seriously considered leaving them up for the winter, but a wise friend suggested that they're really only special because their season is so short. And she's probably right. So away they'll go and I'll anxiously await their return. In 10 months.

And thanks to Lauren, I remembered to un-decorate the cat, too.










Unfortunately, Pollie is feeling rather naked now and doesn't want a new picture taken.

After my lazy day yesterday, I had planned to spend all day today cleaning, organizing and running errands. Unfortunately/fortunately I got a better offer and spent the day hanging out at the mall. Yes. The mall. I left Manhattan, hopped on the LIRR, and ended up at Roosevelt Field. The place was bopping, but the racks were empty. Either spring shipments haven't arrived yet, or stores were quite conservative with their orders. Regardless, I left empty handed, but had a great time. Now it's Sunday night at 10pm and I don't have any clean clothes, food for tomorrow's lunch or lightbulbs in the kitchen. But that's a small price to pay for a fun day with a friend.

Hope your weekend was fun! Have a great week!

XOXO,